Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private J. Street, 2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, a Boer War veteran who was killed in action at the Battle of Le Cateau on 26 August 1914

1914 Star, with clasp (6494 Pte. J. Street. 2/Lan: Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (6494 Pte. J. Street. Lan. Fus.) very fine (3) £200-£240

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals.

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James Street was born at Heaton Norris, Lancashire and attested for the Lancashire Fusiliers at Bury, Lancashire in 1898. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Boer War in South Africa (Q.S.A. with 5 clasps and K.S.A. with 2 clasps).

Following the outbreak of the Great War, Street entrained with the 2nd Battalion for Southampton on 21 August 1914 and embarked on the S.S. Saturnia, arriving at Boulogne, France on 23 August 1914 as part of the 12th Brigade in General Snow’s 4th Division. The following day the battalion travelled by train to Bertry then marched to Ligny. Here on 25 August they were ordered to advanced to Viesly but later withdrew during the night to positions just north-west of Ligny before coming under the command of II Corps just as General Smith-Dorrien decided to make his stand in the rolling country around Le Caudry, to the west of Le Cateau, declaring, ‘Very well, gentlemen, we will fight, and I will ask General Snow to act under me as well.’ Smith-Dorrien’s decision to fight this important delaying rearguard action may well have saved the British from destruction by the massive German onslaught during the general Allied retreat following sustained German successes at the four Battles of the Frontiers.

The location, a long ridge running west-east with Le Cateau at its eastern end, was far from ideal. The ground was soft, so easy for the troops to dig in, but it lacked cover, was dominated by a German-held ridge to the north and, worst of all, both flanks were open. The west, held by 4th Division, was absolutely vulnerable to flanking movements designed to encircle II Corps. Snow now set up his Division HQ at the village of Haucourt with 12th Brigade furthest forward on the left near Esnes and Longsart and the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers on a line of high ground near Longsart Farm between Haucourt and Wambaix. Coming under attack during the early morning of 26 August, they suffered heavy casualties but, managing to rally, held the extreme left of the British line until the B.E.F. was able to retreat, only later falling back to positions on a ridge south-west of Haucourt.

Six officers of the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers were recorded killed at Le Cateau but Major-General J. C. Latter, C.B.E., M.C., in the War Diary of the Lancashire Fusiliers was uncertain of the number of other ranks killed. Some 3 officers and 86 other ranks had been wounded and 6 officers and 402 other ranks were listed as missing.

Private Street was confirmed among those killed in action. He was the son of James and Alice Street, of 154, Stockport Rd., Cheadle, Cheshire and, having no known grave, is commemorated on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, France.